Harehiils Park / Yorkshire water.

magic · Post by **magic** » Thu 31 Jan, 2008 8:26 pm

Noticed whilst driving down Harehills lane that a part of the Yorkshire water building is being demolished. Any one know why? Does any one know if Harehills park was part of that site before the Yorkshire water site was built?

Post by **chameleon** » Thu 31 Jan, 2008 9:10 pm

Immediately behind the buildings is anunderground/raised reservoir which has been shown on maps since at least 1930. To both the north and south edges were allotments and as we have identified in other threads, a mine shaft just to the east of Harehills lane.The start and boundry of the recreation area is shown as a bandstand just behind the reservoir embankment.

Si · Post by Si » Fri 01 Feb, 2008 9:06 am

I'm assuming Harehills Park was Harehills Recreation Ground, in which case it appears on the 1908 OS Godfrey map. It is bounded to the west by the resevoir, to the south by Harehills Cemetary, and to the north and east by fields. No bandstand is shown, but there is a bowling green and a urinal! I can't find a mine shaft on the map, but there is a couple of brick works to the west of Harehills Lane. Bleak House appears due north of the resevoir, just beyond Foundary Lane. Strangely, there is a small quarry within the cemetary(?)

Post by **chameleon** » Fri 01 Feb, 2008 12:19 pm

Si wrote: I'm assuming Harehills Park was Harehills Recreation Ground, in which case it appears on the 1908 OS Godfrey map. It is bounded to the west by the resevoir, to the south by Harehills Cemetary, and to the north and east by fields. No bandstand is shown, but there is a bowling green and a urinal! I can't find a mine shaft on the map, but there is a couple of brick works to the west of Harehills Lane. Bleak House appears due north of the resevoir, just beyond Foundary Lane. Strangely, there is a small quarry within the cemetary(?) Yes I see the Bowling Green on Godfrey which is sited at the distal end of the park. By the time of the 1934 OS map, this seems to have gone ( though is it not in fact still there together with tennis courts?) and the Band Stand appears as stated. Godfrey shows few of the older, abandoned shafts and doubtless some were sunk after that date.

wiggy · Post by **wiggy** » Fri 01 Feb, 2008 12:30 pm

most of the park was turned over to growing food during the war years.

Post by **cnosni** » Fri 01 Feb, 2008 2:43 pm

The Quarry is still there in the cemetery,very small.spent a lot of time there as a sprog.Would probably get arrested if i spent that much time there now.

roundhegian · Post by **roundhegian** » Fri 01 Feb, 2008 6:11 pm

cnosni wrote: The Quarry is still there in the cemetery,very small.spent a lot of time there as a sprog.Would probably get arrested if i spent that much time there now. About 1950 I remember thousands of butterflies along the wall that divided the reservoir from the park . Lucky to see one or two now I suppose .

wiggy · Post by **wiggy** » Fri 01 Feb, 2008 6:36 pm

cnosni wrote: The Quarry is still there in the cemetery,very small.spent a lot of time there as a sprog.Would probably get arrested if i spent that much time there now. i was telling phil about that quarry some time ago,about the door or hatch thats under the ivy...do you remember it?

Brandy · Post by **Brandy** » Fri 01 Feb, 2008 9:07 pm

cnosni wrote: The Quarry is still there in the cemetery,very small.spent a lot of time there as a sprog.Would probably get arrested if i spent that much time there now. the quarry or rabbit canyon as we called it as long been filled ini think the grave diggers have used it as an over-spill for all the extra soil that they have left over after the graves have been dug!i wonder if they used the stone from the quarry to make the church in the cemetery?? there's also that gatehouse type building there?? that's built from the same type of stone.

wiggy · Post by **wiggy** » Fri 01 Feb, 2008 9:32 pm

Brandy wrote: cnosni wrote: The Quarry is still there in the cemetery,very small.spent a lot of time there as a sprog.Would probably get arrested if i spent that much time there now. the quarry or rabbit canyon as we called it as long been filled ini think the grave diggers have used it as an over-spill for all the extra soil that they have left over after the graves have been dug!i wonder if they used the stone from the quarry to make the church in the cemetery?? there's also that gatehouse type building there?? that's built from the same type of stone. rabbit canyon! now theres a blast from the past...where did you live brandy?